Gym Dogs Fall at UCLA

LOS ANGELES – Sixth-ranked UCLA used its best score of the year to knock off No. 2 Georgia, 197.15 – 197.0, on Sunday inside Pauley Pavilion.

The loss was the first for Georgia since the 2005 NCAA Regionals in Gainesville, Fla., stopping an unbeaten streak of 57 straight opponents in 27 meets.

“We’re just not consistent right now,” said head coach Suzanne Yoculan. “We fought hard to comeback on beam, though. I’m proud of (Courtney) McCool for her high score on beam. UCLA didn’t count any falls today and that was the difference.

“Hopefully this loss will be a good this for this team. I think this will be good to help them focus on the SEC (championships),” Yoculan said.

UCLA (9-4) took a slim lead after rotation one, posting a 49.425 on vault. Georgia (10-1-1) had a 49.35 on bars led by Courtney Kupets’ 9.95 in the anchor position of the lineup. Katie Heenan scored a 9.9 to tie her season best. Grace Taylor and Tiffany Tolnay scored 9.875s for the Gym Dogs, with Tolnay’s also tying her best mark of the year.

In rotation two, Georgia’s team total of 49.45 tied its season high score behind four 9.9s from Marcia Newby, Courtney Kupets, Heenan and Tolnay. Newby’s 9.9 matched her top score from two previous meets.

The Gym Dogs led at the midpoint 98.8 – 98.675.

The floor rotation score was Georgia’s second-lowest of the year as two falls led to a 48.825. Tolnay led the Gym Dogs with a 9.925 while Heenan scored a 9.9. Abby Stack scored a 9.825 in her first action in nearly a month. Meanwhile, UCLA scored a 49.125 on beam to take a lead at 147.8 – 147.525.

Courtney McCool’s career-high 9.925 on beam highlighted Georgia’s final rotation. Courtney Kupets had a 9.9, followed by a 9.875 from Tolnay, a 9.85 from Megan Dowlen and a 9.825 from Nikki Childs. UCLA’s 49.35 on the floor exercise clinched the win for the Bruins.

Tolnay earned the all-around victory with a career-high score of 39.575. It was her second win in the all-around this year and it marks the highest road all-around score by any gymnast in the SEC this year.

Georgia concludes its regular season on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 pm ET with a home meet against Michigan.

Final Team Scores
Georgia 197.0
UCLA 197.15

Event-by-Event Totals
Vault
Georgia 49.45
UCLA 49.425

Bars
Georgia 49.35
UCLA 49.25

Beam
Georgia 49.375
UCLA 49.125

Floor
Georgia 48.825
UCLA 49.35

Georgia Individual Scores

Vault
Kelsey Ericksen 9.825
Marcia Newby 9.9
Courtney Kupets 9.9
Katie Heenan 9.9
Ashley Kupets 9.85
Tiffany Tolnay 9.9

Bars
Ashley Kupets 9.75
Grace Taylor 9.875
Tiffany Tolnay 9.875
Katie Heenan 9.875
Kelsey Ericksen 9.325
Courtney Kupets 9.95

Beam
Grace Taylor 9.8
Megan Dowlen 9.85
Nikki Childs 9.825
Tiffany Tolnay 9.875
Courtney Kupets 9.9
Courtney McCool 9.925

Floor
Marcia Newby 9.725
Abby Stack 9.825
Ashley Kupets 8.825
Katie Heenan 9.9
Tiffany Tolnay 9.925
Courtney Kupets 9.45

University of Georgia Athletics

Related News

Related Videos